--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the political scientist James Payne…" description: "\"“the political scientist James Payne suggests that ancient peoples put a low value on other people’s lives because pain and death were so common in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/steven-pinker-526_death_the-political-scientist-james-payne-sugg_2206610.jpg" --- # the political scientist James Payne suggests that ancient… ![“the political scientist James Payne suggests that ancient peoples put a low value on other people’s lives because pain and death were so common in their own. This set a low threshold for any practice that had a chance of bringing them an advantage, even if the price was the lives of others.” quote by Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/steven-pinker-526_death_the-political-scientist-james-payne-sugg_2206610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/steven-pinker-526_death_the-political-scientist-james-payne-sugg_2206610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/steven-pinker-526_death_the-political-scientist-james-payne-sugg_2206610.jpg) > ““the political scientist James Payne suggests that ancient peoples put a low value on other people’s lives because pain and death were so common in their own. This set a low threshold for any practice that had a chance of bringing them an advantage, even if the price was the lives of others.”” [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ancient societies accepted killing others because they were accustomed to suffering, lowering moral barriers to violence for personal gain. **In simple terms:** People once valued life less, making violence easier. Key Takeaway Recognize how desensitization lowers moral thresholds. Themes morality violence human nature history ethics Mood cautious reflective critical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - war - colonialism - political policy - personal ambition - media influence Key Concepts utilitarianism psychological adaptation social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How does exposure to suffering affect our moral judgments? - What safeguards can prevent low thresholds for violence? A Different Perspective Modern societies still face desensitization through media and propaganda. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient Peoples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-peoples-4870332/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-common-2220916/) [Lives of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-of-others/) [Payne Suggests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/payne-suggests-4870333/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Suggests Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggests-ancient-4870331/) [Value People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-people/) ## Related quotes > [Those men who, in war, seek to preserve their lives at any rate commonly die with shame and ignominy, while those who look upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophon/those-men-who-in-war-seek-to-preserve-their-lives-at-any-rate/) [Xenophon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophon/) > [“Death is a common destination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/death-is-a-common-destination/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“People say that love and death are two common and universal human journeys. 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